Critic Reviews

The Zoe Saldaña-led spy thriller’s sophomore run is fantastic, and stands as one of the year’s best TV shows.

Lioness season 3 takes risks, particularly in the way it's constructed, that make it feel like it's owning its identity as a political crime thriller in a layered way. While it's not guaranteed in the long-term, Lioness' big swing works well to start the season.

De Oliveira might not be in their [Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman's] league yet, but if her performance here is anything to go by, she will be. Her Manuelos is a combination of barely suppressed rage and eagerness to please, and she’s very handy with a frying pan – as a weapon rather than an item of cookware. She also conveys an air of emotional vulnerability. You’re rooting for her within 90 seconds of her introduction.

“Lioness” remains a star vehicle for Saldaña as Season 3 reminds us that Joe can’t really leave her job at the doorstep once she returns home, but the series has wisely expanded its scope to feature more of Joe’s team—which raises the dramatic stakes because we’ve come to care about this group.

“Special Ops: Lioness” has all the makings of a crackling good military spy thriller.

It’s too early to say where ‘Lioness’ will land, but it’s a promising beginning, arguably more absorbing than any of these recent shows, and hell, we’ll take that roar as long as it lasts.

The first episode serves as a mostly successful setup, but much of what the show will become remains top secret. There's also a question of how this budget will be spread around; is the opening scene with all its helicopters and explosions a sign of what's to come, or just a big show to get viewers instantly hooked? I don't know, but the intel we do have on the rest of the series says it has some promise.

Season 2 is certainly a step in the right direction for this series and leads us to hope Sheridan will pursue more thriller projects in the future.

Unlike “1923,” which moseyed at a glacial pace, director John Hillcoat keeps “Lioness” moving apace. It also helped that the first episode is a brisk 41 minutes, avoiding the bloat that mars too many streaming dramas these days.

There are hints here and there that it could become something better than the high-class hokum the pilot delivers.